Improvement in photographic backgrounds



A. B. COSTELLO.

Photographic Backgrounds. No.145557, Patented Dec.16,1873.

Bil.

I A l I T Q P [by m l I I WITNESSES INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED B. COSTELLO, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUNDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,557, dated December 16, 1873 application filed November 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. CosrELLo, of Jersey City, Hudson county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Backgrounds for Photographs, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention. is to provide for certain improvements in pliable conical backgrounds to be employed in the taking of photographs, daguerreotypes, ferrotypes, and stereotypes.

The present-used conical backgrounds are made of stiffened paper or papier-mach, which is liable to be broken by handling, and diflicult to transport, especially when used for outdoor photography. lVhen broken or crushed, such backgrounds draw a false light and make it impossible to obtain a good picture.

To obviate these difficulties, I form the background of suitable pliable stufli', such as silk,

woolen, linen, cotton, or such textile fabrics,

and, when exposed to the influence of the weather, or to much wear and tear, of indiarubber, leather, or other such fabrics. I form such fabrics into a funnel-shaped background, adjusted to a wooden or metallic frame, to the center part and back of which is hinged another frame, to which the end of the conical background is held by aid of a hook and eye. Suitable folding legs are attached to the lower part of the main frame, serving to support the same. This part of the main frame is made adjustable by dovetailing the sides and employing a slide and setscrew, by aid of which the background may be raised or lowered, as required.

In order to describe my invention more fully, I refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

Figure I is a front view of a conical background and frame embodying my invention. Fig. II is a top view of the same. Fig. III is a back View.

A represents the conical background; B, the background-frame, pivoted at c 0 to the main frame D, and held in position by aid of the set-screw e. F is another frame, hinged at g g to the background-frame B, and held in a horizontal position by supports it h. i is an eye placed in the center of the frame F, into which is inserted the hook j, when the conical background is placed in position for use. K K are legs hinged at l l to the adjustable part m of the main frame D. n is a slide, and 0 is a set-screw. p is a fastener for the frame F. By this arrangement the conical background, the legs, and the frame F may be folded to gether, so as to occupy but little more space than the main frame.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to claim- The pliable conical background A, in combination with the fram es B, D, and F, substan tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

ALFRED B. COSTELLO.

Witnesses:

RICHARD GERNER, FRANKLIN BARRITT. 

